Fiji and Australia are elevating their current “Vuvale Partnership” to a “Vuvale Union” as the two nations join forces across a broad front in a major strategic alignment that will have far-reaching consequences for the bilateral relationship and the region as a whole.
Eager not to alienate China as it steps up its engagement with the Pacific. Fiji is casting the Vuvale Union within the framework of its campaign for the Pacific to be declared an Ocean of Peace. Yet there is no doubt that Fiji has made the choice to side with Australia in the intense rivalry between Canberra and Beijing for influence with the island nations.
In doing so, Fiji has followed the lead set by Papua New Guinea in pursuing a security treaty with Australia and rejecting overtures from China. It places Fiji firmly on the side of the democracies and as such, will be widely welcomed throughout the region and beyond.
In the case of Fiji, the negotiations are still proceeding and the Vuvale Union is still to be signed. There has also been no formal announcement so far of the upgraded relationship from Canberra.
Yet the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, laid out the extent of the proposed treaty in sweeping detail when he opened the latest round of negotiations in Suva yesterday. Here are some extracts from his speech:
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“This treaty is unique and special. It elevates and sets the direction and tone of Fiji and Australia’s relations for centuries to come.
We live in an increasingly dangerous world and our region faces serious threats, including transnational organised crime, health pressures, strategic contest and the existential threat of climate change.
At its heart, the Vuvale Union bolsters our sovereignty and agency. It strengthens our ability to shape a shared future in ways fit for the century.
It recognises our interests are intertwined and decisions taken by one affect the other. That we will cooperate to find solutions and act together as is necessary to face common challenges.
In this Union, we will intensify our diplomatic cooperation, dedicate resources to tackle key security challenges and maintain peace…
Areas for enhanced cooperation starts from traditional security sectors to transnational organised crime including drug, items and people trafficking and smuggling, terrorism, cybercrime, illegal, unregistered and unreported fishing, law and justice.
The inclusion of economic security brought into focus critical infrastructures, health (including HIV/Aids), education, job creation, migration and labour mobility, development, trade, and investment within the broader structures of our economy. This will make communities in both our countries safer and more resilient.
The Union sets a bold plan for greater integration. This will create new economic opportunities and linkages, supporting our people and businesses to seize opportunities and prosper over this decade and contribute to the prosperity of our region.
The Vuvale Union is a monumental step for Fiji…We’re profoundly grateful that we are taking this step with Australia.”
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The formal Fiji government announcement on Facebook and images from yesterday’s gathering in Suva.
For Australia, forging security treaties with the two biggest countries in the region – Papua New Guinea and Fiji – is a major diplomatic coup.
Keeping Pacific nations out of the clutches of the Chinese is a major cornerstone of Australian foreign policy and a great deal of effort has gone into wooing Fiji.
It includes the Australian High Commissioner, Peter Roberts, embracing the sulu during public appearances and sporting the official tie of the RFMF.
Clearly “whatever it takes” is as much a feature of diplomacy as any other endeavour and more so when the stakes are so high for Australia in keeping Pacific nations onside.
POSTSCRIPT:
How far will this “union” go? Will it include economic union, visa-free travel and right of access for Fiji citizens to Australia?
Presumably this is part of these negotiations. But it is certainly the moment for Fiji to put its case forcefully.
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For those interested in the fine print (my apologies), the Prime Minister’s speech in full:
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And finally a personal observation. As a dual Fijian-Australian national, Grubsheet couldn’t be more delighted with the new arrangement and the prospect of a closer relationship.
Let’s hope it leads to better governance in Fiji and that Australia uses its influence to encourage more inclusiveness. The overt racism currently practiced by the Coalition is scandalous and simply wouldn’t be tolerated in Australia.
A picture speaks a million words.
Looking at the pics, not even a single indo fijian is present. Why? Lamb chops Baimaan who was the only one closer to this government and to be sitting there due to his support to Rabuka is now chopped into pieces, fed to dogs and eventually converted to sh*t.
Treaties or what, there is no indo Fijian leader left in Fiji who will protect indo Fijians in terms of their rights and aspirations or even a representation like in this treaty.
It’s a total deliberate elimination to exclude indo Fijians from all major decisions in the country now. As simple as that.
We had leaders like the late Mr AD Patel, late Mr Koya and with late Ratu Mara as PM although they were in opposition in many things, major decisions for the country were done in a bipartisan manner.
Now its never going to happen that way, unless old farts, racist and extremist politicians are replaced with visionary people in the coming election.
The Coalition and Rabuka have been compromising Fiji’s sovereignty and integrity in exchange for unsurprising demands from metropolitan powers.
It requires enlightened leadership such as that demonstrated by Vanuatu to stand up to the Australian agenda of acting as the US sheriff. It has successfully negotiated the Falepili with Tuvalu, the PukPuk with PNG and one with Nauru to allow it to settle asylum seekers. Of course Fiji is so bankrupt and reliant on Australian financial support, it will sell its soul for a few pieces of silver. So the new impetus to Vuvale is another manifestation of Australia’s imperialism, acting on behalf of Western interests.
And if anyone thinks Australia will raise a voice about the injustices, blatant corruption and governance issues, against its own minorities, one must be dreaming. Neither Australia. NZ, UK or USA demonstrated any tangible concern for injustices ever since Rabuka’s 1st coup in 1987. And they are shamelessly doing it against the 1st nations people and colored people in their own country.
The amount of hypocrisy is unreal. As they say ‘diplomacy is a b…h’. Australia doe not give a damn about human rights and democracy. It is their self-interest which is paramount.
It will be wonderful if it makes it easier for the Fiji-born to work in Australia and NZ to provide desperately needed funds for families in Fiji.
The old imbecile merely read the words out loud – the entire text was prepared by dfat Canberra.
Our old C knows only to spout racist tropes full bigotry and hypocrisy. He knows jack about the Aussies’ true intent, being the regional sheriff for you-know-who.
The Aussies are screaming murder as the oil crisis bites into their luxurious, wealthy lifestyle fueled by credit cards. $4 per liter is not to be sneezed at. So much for off with the mullahs heads.
For along with the mullahs heads, they’ve cut off oil and gas pipe lines, refineries, and the Strait. The flow has slowed. In North America, they are now paying 7,8,9 dollar a gallon, depending where you are. From less than $3.
Way to go Albo! History will judge you and your colonizers and imperialist ilk. All white men in suits beholden to money and power, fknthe dying and the dead from wars.
Little boy Albo had no real answers to ABC TV Australia interviewer questions about what now: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/television-interview-abc-730-17. Credit OZ government for sharing with the wider world in real time, in depth interviews with their PM.
Can we say the same about Fiji? About the wider Pacific’ pacified media? Yeah, nah, nah. Kaindia kailoma, Butt Street biscuit, faded Rosi, pot belly Veeja, the Lice with fake Aussie accent and all, and the rest of the sorry ass compromised “media” are not fit to spit shine the shoes of OZ journalists.
As Fiji for our own beloved bankrupt Fiji, financially, morally, ethically, a bankrupt judiciary and police, miserably racial and corrupt odpp, and each and every government ministry all corrupt beyond repair. So we grovel and beg on all fours for crumbs in a “vulale union.” While Fiji is in perpetual disunion, broke and broken listing along the “peace ocean” whatever that mwana. What a disgraceful state of affairs.
Right under the noses of the nei-colonialists OZ/Kiwis, the government is determined to introduce second-class citizenship for people being born here for generations. There is no sign of a vulagi vuvale union for that group.
It is no wonder that OZ and NZ still do not accept the Indos as “pacific people” – again, whatever “pacific people” means. The Indos are forced to take and pass an English test to immigrate for crying out loud! With university degrees.
Vuvale na sona rolex. Bastards all.
PS, we wait with bated breaths for the mighty warriors thay our Fijian Israelites are and the OZ/NZ to join the fun clearing or securing the Strait.
Oh, wait, they’ve already said “no”- refused the offer from donald duck outright!
Off with their coward heads.
Look at Ropate Green sleeping.